David Naughton

Last updated
David Naughton
David Naughton Photo Op Nightmare Weekend Richmond 2023.jpg
Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023
Born
David Walsh Naughton

(1951-02-13) February 13, 1951 (age 73)
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1974–present
Spouses
  • Denise Stephens
    (m. 1976;div. 1983)
  • Deborah Dutton
    (m. 1985;div. 2005)
  • Seann Sara Sella
    (m. 2007;div. 2009)
  • Cheryl L Naughton
    (m. 2019)
Children2
Relatives James Naughton (brother)

David Walsh Naughton (born February 13, 1951) [1] is an American actor and singer known for his starring roles in the horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981) and the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980), as well as for a long-running "Be a Pepper" ad campaign for beverage maker Dr Pepper. He also starred in the short-lived sitcom Makin' It and sang its hit theme song "Makin' It", giving him a Top 5 hit on the Billboard charts. [2]

Contents

Early life

Naughton was born in West Hartford, Connecticut, [1] the son of Rosemary (née Walsh) and Joseph Naughton, both of whom were teachers. He is the younger of two boys; his older brother is theater and film actor James Naughton. His family is Irish-American. [3] Naughton attended the University of Pennsylvania [4] and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. [5] Naughton was an Assistant Stage Manager and Understudy for the Broadway production of Hugh Leonard's Da. [6]

Career

Naughton first became widely known as a result of his four-year stint (1977–1981) singing and dancing in television commercials and personal appearances to promote Dr Pepper. [7] He starred in the sitcom Makin' It , and hit the Billboard Top Ten in 1979 with the sitcom's theme song, also titled "Makin' It." [1] A US million selling disc, the track also peaked at No. 44 in the UK Singles Chart. [8]

He starred in the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980) followed by his lead role in the Academy Award-winning horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981) directed by John Landis. He also appeared in the television series My Sister Sam and also in episodes of MacGyver , Melrose Place , Murder, She Wrote , JAG , and Seinfeld .

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980 Midnight Madness Adam Larson
1981Separate WaysJerry Lansing
An American Werewolf in London David Kessler
1984 Hot Dog…The Movie Dan
Not for Publication Barry Denver
Terror in the Aisles David KesslerArchival footage
1986 The Boy in Blue Bill
Separate Vacations Richard Moore
1987 Kidnapped Vince McCarthyDirector Howard Avedis
1988 Private Affairs Mauro
1990The Sleeping CarJason McCree
OverexposedPhillip
1991 Steel and Lace Dunn
1993 Wild Cactus Philip Marcus
Amityville: A New Generation Dick CutlerDirect-to-video
1994Desert SteelZach Gardener
BeanstalkMr. Ladd
Caribbean KillN/A
1995 Ice Cream Man Martin Cassera
The Adventures of Black FeatherProfesseur Byrd
Mirror, Mirror III: The Voyeur Detective Kobeck
1996 Urban Safari Joe
2000Little InsectBuzzVoice
2001 A Crack in the Floor EMT Driver
Flying VirusDr. Stephen North
2003 Sky Blue Commander Locke
Dr. Noah
Voice, English dub [9]
2006 Big Bad Wolf Sheriff Ruben
2007Brutal Massacre: A ComedyHarry Penderecki
Hallows PointShopkeeper
2009Little Hercules in 3-DDwayne Harr
2012 A Thousand Cuts Alan
2013Cool as HellClark
2017Do It or DieHerb Clough
The HatredWalter
2023Waking NightmareDr. Doolin

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1974 Planet of the Apes Dr. StoleEpisode: "The Surgeon"
1976 Muggsy Danny AtwaterEpisode: "Hit and Run"
The Other Side of VictoryN/ATelevision film
1979 Makin' It Billy Manucci9 episodes
1982I, DesireDavid BalsigerTelevision film
1983 The Love Boat Edwin WinnakerEpisode: "Fountain of Youth/Bad Luck Cabin/Uncle Daddy"
At Ease Pfc. Tony Baker14 episodes
1984Getting PhysicalMickey RitterTelevision film
1986–1988 My Sister Sam Jack Kincaid44 episodes
1988 Goddess of Love Ted BeckmanTelevision film
Murder, She Wrote Ken ParrishEpisode: "Wearing of the Green"
1989 The Twilight Zone John SelligEpisode: "Special Service"
1991The Belles of Bleeker StreetChrisEpisode: "Pilot"
MacGyver LaMannaEpisode: "Honest Abe"
Seinfeld DickEpisode: "The Red Dot"
1993 Body Bags PeteTelevision film ("The Gas Station" segment)
Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90'sBradTelevision film
1994 Diagnosis: Murder Harry GelsonEpisode: "My Four Husbands"
1994–1995 Turbocharged Thunderbirds Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, additional voicesVoice
1996 Melrose Place Lou ChandlerEpisode: "Run, Billy, Run"
Touched by an Angel Michael RussellEpisode: "Birthmarks"
Bailey Kipper's P.O.V. Norm Kipper2 episodes
1997 Cybill Andy2 episodes
1998Chance of a LifetimeArt HaberTelevision film
Silk Stalkings Max BehringEpisode: "Ramone, P.I."
1999 V.I.P. RoyEpisode: "K-Val"
Chicken Soup for the Soul Paul DinsmanEpisode: "It's Never Too Late"
2000, 2001 JAG Det. Grady2 episodes
2001 ER Ben StevensEpisode: "Thy Will Be Done"
Kate Brasher AmesEpisode: "Tracy"
Out of the Wilderness Professor ByrdTelevision film
The Nightmare Room Mr. RyanEpisode: "Tangled Web"
2002 Justice League The StreakVoice, episode: "Legends"
2005 Higglytown Heroes Orchestra Conductor HeroVoice, episode: "Higgly Harmonies" [9]
Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder StevenTelevision film
2009 Psych Dr. Ken TuckerEpisode: "Let's Get Hairy"
2010 Big Love Mr. UsherEpisode: "Next Ticket Out"
2011 The Mentalist NeurologistEpisode: "Fugue in Red"
2012 Major Crimes State Senator McAustinEpisode: "The Shame Game"
2013 Grey's Anatomy Nick ParkerEpisode: "Transplant Wasteland"
2013–2015 Granite Flats Dr. Millard Whittison23 episodes
2013 Holliston Mark WardEpisode: "Joe's Soda"
2015 American Horror Story Mr. SamuelsEpisode: "Mommy"
2017 Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Ambassador KesslerTelevision film
2018 SuperMansion HimselfVoice, episode: "Comicarnage"

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005 Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure Manfred [9]
2006 Marvel Ultimate Alliance Mister Fantastic [9]
2016 Fallout 4: WRVRTraveler
2017Saga of the Nine WorldsGuard CaptainThe Four Stags Collector's Edition
2018Project Pro SkaterGod

Theatre

YearTitleRoleLocationOther work/notes
1975–1976 Hamlet Francisco
Player Queen
Ensemble
Vivian Beaumont Theater Understudy for Osric
1978–1980 Da Morosco Theatre Assistant Stage Manager
Understudy for Young Charlie

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Larkin, Colin, ed. (December 1995). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2993. ISBN   978-1-5615-9176-3.
  2. "Billboard Top 40 Hits (1979)". cyList.
  3. "Actor's angels heaven-sent James Naughton has waited a lifetime for this 'breakout' role". Miami Herald . 3 June 1990. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  4. "David Naughton Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010.
  5. Reilly, Sue (28 September 1981). "David Naughton Trades Dr Pepper for London Moonshine". People . Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  6. "Da – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database . Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  7. Auden, Sandy (2006). "Getting Naked: An American Werewolf in London Revealed -- An Interview with David Naughton". The SF Site.
  8. Roberts, David (2004). British Hit Singles & Albums (17th Revised ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 389. ISBN   978-0-8511-2199-4 . Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "David Naughton (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 4, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.